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The Bestseller Blueprint: Crafting High-Concept Story Ideas

Name: The Bestseller Blueprint: Crafting High-Concept Story Ideas
Rating: 4.7 (1904 reviews)

Proven strategies to generate marketable novel and movie ideas that captivate agents, publishers, producers, and readers

Created byJessica Brody, Writing Mastery

Last updated 12/2024

English

What you'll learn

Master the art of crafting blockbuster story ideas for books and movies
Unlock the power of "high-concept" ideas and why they're industry gold
Discover the 4 Secret Ingredients that make every high-concept idea irresistible
Learn 5 Proven Methods to generate your own high-concept ideas on demand
Develop multiple compelling story ideas ready for writing or pitching
Elevate your writing career with ideas that excite readers and industry professionals

Course content

4 sections • 16 lectures • 1h 32m total length

Welcome and What to Expect2:49
Welcome to Writing Mastery: Creating High-Concept Ideas that Sell! I'm honored to be your guide on this journey. This course is all about high-concept ideas, why they're important, why they sell for more money, and how YOU can develop your own high-concept ideas to get the most out of your writing career. In this first lecture, I'll introduce you to the idea of high concept and walk you through what you can expect from the rest of the course.
Who Can Benefit from This Course?1:00
In this lecture, I give you a quick overview of who this course is designed for and who will get the most out of it.
Who is Jessica Brody?1:02
In this lecture, I briefly introduce myself and tell you why I'm qualified to teach this course.
What is High Concept?5:10
In this lecture, we'll introduce high-concept ideas and discuss why they're so important in the book and movie business and how they can help you reach the next level in your writing career.
Where to Get Help0:43

Secret Ingredient #1: A Fish Out of Water5:33
In this lecture, we kick off our discussion of the 4 Secret Ingredients of every high-concept idea and why they're important. These ingredients will provide you with a solid foundation upon which to brainstorm and develop your own high-concept ideas. We'll discuss the first Secret Ingredient of high-concept ideas, a Fish out of Water, and I'll provide you with examples from popular books and movies to help you better understand why it's important.
Secret Ingredient #2: A Looming Conflict5:52
In this lecture, we discuss the second Secret Ingredient of high-concept ideas, a Looming Conflict, and I'll provide you with examples from popular books and movies to help you better understand why it's important. We'll also discuss the differences between major and minor conflicts.
Secret Ingredient #3: A Hook11:48
In this lecture, we discuss the third Secret Ingredient of high-concept ideas, a Hook, and I'll provide you with examples from popular books and movies to help you better understand why it's important. We'll also discuss the three different kind of hooks found in high-concept ideas and how to identify them.
Secret Ingredient #4: A Universal Theme9:42
In this lecture, we discuss the fourth and final Secret Ingredient of high-concept ideas, a Universal Theme, and I'll provide you with examples from popular books and movies to help you better understand why it's important. This lecture also comes with two exercises that will help you apply everything you've learned in this section.

Proven Method #1: Larger than Life10:12
In this lecture, we start brainstorming book and screenplay ideas! I first provide you with some brainstorming guidelines before diving into our first Proven Method for Brainstorming High-Concept Ideas. We'll break down the Larger than Life Method and how I developed it, as well as complete two exercises to help you use the method for brainstorming your own ideas.
Proven Method #2: Extra! Extra! Read All About It!5:26
In this lecture, we'll break down my favorite brainstorming method, Extra Extra Read All About it, and how I developed it, as well as complete a fun exercise to get your creative juices pumping and your ideas flowing!
Proven Method #3: The Magic Talisman4:58
In this lecture, we'll break down the Magic Talisman method (and its variation, the Magic Curse method), and how I developed it, as well as complete two "magical" exercises to help you use the methods for brainstorming your own ideas.
Proven Method #4: The People Zoo7:00
In this lecture, we'll break down the People Zoo Method, and how I developed it, as well as guide you through a "trip to the people zoo," an exercise to help you use the method for brainstorming your own ideas.
Proven Method #5: The MishMash9:15
In this lecture, we'll "MishMash" things up with the MishMash method. I'll talk about how I developed it, why it's probably the most "fun" method of them all, and then we'll end this section with an exercise and a fun MishMash brainstorming game!

Recap and Putting it All Together9:53
In this lecture, we'll recap everything we've learned, then complete one final exercise, "Putting it All Together," which will help you select which shiny new idea to work on, and how to move forward with it into the next stage of the writing process. I'll also provide you with some last minute tips and words of encouragement as you venture out into the world of writing mastery!
BONUS LECTURE2:26

Requirements

Computer or notebook for exercises
An open mind for brainstorming
A desire to write a novel or screenplay

Description

Unlock the secret to creating irresistible book and movie ideas that sell!

What do blockbusters like The DaVinci Code, The Girl on the Train, The Martian, and The Hunger Games have in common?

They're all built around “high-concept” ideas that grab your attention in just one sentence.

In this course, international bestselling author Jessica Brody reveals how you can craft your own high-concept ideas to captivate agents, publishers, producers, and readers.

"If you're stuck for an idea, not just an idea but a great idea, then this class is for you." - Steve B.

High-concept ideas are the holy grail of the book and movie business, known to sell better, faster, and for more money. But what exactly is a high-concept idea, and how do you create one that sells?

In this dynamic course, you'll:

Learn exactly what makes an idea "high-concept"
Discover the 4 Secret Ingredients of every high-concept idea
Master 5 Proven Methods for brainstorming your own high-concept ideas
Get access to practical exercises and tips to apply your new skills

By the end of the course, you'll have at least one shiny new high-concept idea ready to become your next bestselling novel or blockbuster movie!

"I used your course to develop my pitch to two agents. They both requested a manuscript." - Brian U.

About Your Instructor: Jessica Brody is the author of more than 20 novels published by major houses like Simon & Schuster, Random House, Macmillan, and Disney Press. Her books have been translated into 20+ languages, and several have been optioned for film and TV. Jessica's success secret? High-concept ideas!

"This is easily one of the most powerful, clearly presented courses I've taken." - Eibhlin

Whether you're aiming for self-publishing, traditional publishing, or screenwriting, this course will teach you how to develop ideas that captivate your audience and stand out in a crowded market.

"Jessica Brody breaks down these concepts with clarity and amazing insight." - Mike

Don't miss this opportunity to transform your creative process and skyrocket your chances of success.

Enroll now and start brainstorming your next bestseller or blockbuster today!

PRAISE FOR JESSICA'S UDEMY COURSES:

10+ writing courses
Over 70,000 students enrolled
Average Rating 4.7 stars!

"Jessica is truly a gifted teacher!" - Vicky

"Jessica is a LEGEND...Completely worth it." - Ras

"Superb. Clear and engaging - Dan

"Just, WOW! Jessica Brody provides much more than a boatload... try a cruise ship FULL of tips, tricks, resources, references, and actionable steps" - Tracy

"Thorough, accurate, and well-presented --I would recommend Jessica Brody’s courses to any writer eager to rise." - Mark

"Jessica Brody breaks down these concepts with clarity and amazing insight." - Mike

"Jessica Brody's courses are all thorough, entertaining, and extremely helpful." - Tricia

"As always, Jessica Brody delivers an insider's knowledge and the tools to move forward in the process, now!" - Sue

"Very informative and well worth the time and cost." - Noel

"Clear, concise, & well-narrated with an abundance of enthusiasm." - Christopher

"This course is worth far more than the price of admission!" - Talmage

"Jessica Brody has a gift for distilling lots of hard-earned information into concise and tasty bites." - Katherine

"If you write (or plan to write), get this course" - Scott

Who this course is for:

Anyone who wants to write a novel or screenplay
Newbie writers or seasoned pros
Writers striving to reach the next level of their career
Writers wanting to make their work more commercial
Anyone who has always wanted to write a novel or screenplay but hasn't found the perfect idea yet
Writers looking for a big idea for their next project
Anyone who's asked the question: "Where do writers get their ideas?"

The Bestseller Blueprint: Crafting High-Concept Story Ideas

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction5 lectures • 11min

The 4 Secret Ingredients of a High-Concept Idea4 lectures • 33min

5 Proven Methods for Brainstorming High-Concept Ideas5 lectures • 37min

Wrapping Up2 lectures • 12min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: